The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 256
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Hurry!”
Tian, who had been staring into the magic mirror, shouted.
The hands of the mages opening the portal by consuming magic stones moved faster.
“Lia, please….”
A desperate voice flowed from Tian’s lips.
The battle in the Imperial Capital that seemed like it would never end had come to a close.
Most of the demon beasts that had attacked the Imperial Capital were dead, and some had retreated.
Judging by their route, they seemed to be heading toward Abner Castle where Annellia was.
“…I should have noticed.”
I should have realized it long ago.
Deep anger seeped through his voice.
Crookiatus had intentionally dispersed the Imperial Army’s forces.
The Imperial Army had tried to disperse Crookiatus’s forces, but the opposite situation had occurred instead.
‘He exploited the fact that his magic power exists in Annellia’s body to show her hallucinations.’
And he did it concerning Theo’s safety.
Annellia had always been calm, rational, and unwavering.
But if there was one area where she became vulnerable, it was family.
“Honestly, I don’t think I completely overcame it. Before my regression, that loneliness of having no one by my side was too difficult.”
Those were Annellia’s words when she confessed about her regression seven years ago.
“Even over trivial things, when family is involved, my heart becomes anxious. My actions naturally become hasty. Can I fix this kind of thing with effort?”
Crookiatus must have known that point.
The fact that the only key to shake Annellia’s prudence was her family’s safety.
When he raised his head, he could see the situation beyond the magic mirror.
Crookiatus’s demonic energy was raining down like thousands of arrows, and Annellia was deflecting every single one without exception.
The summoned Ancient Soldiers and Golems defended alongside Theo to prevent other demon beasts from approaching.
When Annellia had time to catch her breath, Euriko and Dimas would attack Crookiatus using their divine abilities.
Until a moment ago, Shasha had been with them too.
Until she inhaled the demonic energy and collapsed on the floor.
“Your Majesty! The portal is almost complete!”
Then a mage shouted.
Tian looked at the massive portal nearing completion.
Abner Castle hadn’t had many soldiers stationed there to begin with.
He had to get there immediately, as quickly as possible.
[The supply of power being given to Crookiatus has been cut off.]
This was the fact Ricaruss had informed him of a moment ago.
It was because the god named Rikentia who had been helping him had changed her mind.
In other words, if they could just make Crookiatus exhaust all his remaining power, they had a chance of winning.
“Move by units!”
The army finally began gathering in an orderly fashion toward the completed portal.
“Cough-!”
Euriko, who had been standing guard in front of Teacher Ann, Mother, and Grandmother, dropped to one knee on the floor.
I deflected Crookiatus’s attack with one hand while quickly spreading a barrier in that direction.
Euriko’s complexion had turned deathly pale.
“Euriko. Are you alright!”
Grandmother urgently approached Euriko.
Grandmother’s complexion wasn’t good either.
Grandmother had torn cloth wrapped and tied around where her arm had been severed.
“Hah, I’m fine… I’m alright.”
Euriko staggered as she got up from her position.
And she began striking the demonic blades I couldn’t block with lightning once again.
Euriko’s lightning was noticeably weaker than when the battle first started.
During a few rounds of unstable offense and defense.
In a brief moment, sharp demonic energy grazed past Euriko’s right side.
“Gasp-!”
If the Ancient Soldier hadn’t deflected Crookiatus’s attack, it would have pierced straight through the center of Euriko’s chest.
“Euriko!”
Along with Mother’s scream, Euriko slowly collapsed.
Red blood was spreading over her clothes.
“Euriko, hold your breath. You need to stay conscious.”
Mother urgently released magic power from her hands.
But the exhausted magic power only circled above the wound like a thin thread.
Mother’s magic power had faint healing properties, unlike mine.
Because of this, even in a state of complete magic exhaustion, Mother somehow squeezed out her remaining strength to heal people.
It was Mother who had stopped Grandmother’s arm from bleeding, and who had restored the breathing of the unconscious Teacher Ann.
But unlike Crookiatus, Mother was human, and she grew tired as much as she used her power.
“Armin! No!”
Then an urgent voice came from the opposite side.
While I was protecting everyone, Crookiatus’s demonic energy was binding Armin.
Blood vessels burst bright red in Armin’s eyes from the violently tightening demonic energy.
I frantically extended my magic power in that direction.
But once again, Crookiatus was faster.
With a sickening crack, Dimas, who had been running, hesitated.
I stared with disbelieving eyes at Armin falling to the floor like a doll.
“…Armin.”
Dimas, who had crawled over, called Armin’s name with a trembling voice.
But Armin didn’t respond.
Euriko and Mother also stared in that direction, at a loss for words.
Now there were hardly any demon beasts left in the vicinity.
Father was dealing with the few remaining dragons, and the Golems and Ancient Soldiers were pouring attacks on Crookiatus.
Crookiatus received those attacks without showing any signs of fatigue.
At a glance, he even seemed relaxed.
[Listen carefully to what I’m about to say, Lia.]
Lasandra spoke in a calm voice.
It sounded exactly like tinnitus, making me unconsciously let out a short breath.
[When this battle ends, you will die.]
Despite being told I would die, I felt nothing.
In fact, I had lost sensation in my hands since a while ago.
Black spots had already spread like burns on the inside of my left arm.
[One of your friends died. Ann Clark as well. Her breathing stopped just moments ago.]
So Teacher Ann died.
In the end, Teacher Ann left too.
I thought of Wendel, who would be in the Imperial Capital.
He would be coming here with Tian by now.
He would never be able to see Teacher Ann again.
Not even the child he had loved and anticipated so much.
[The others are the same. Your mother and grandmother have been exposed to too much demonic energy. It will be hard for them to survive. Theo… he’ll die the moment Crookiatus takes away his life force.]
Strength kept draining from my body.
The meaning behind Lasandra’s words was horrifying.
Crookiatus had been intentionally keeping Father alive all this time.
Even though he could take his life at any moment.
He probably did something when he trapped Father in the interdimensional space.
[If you want to win, there’s only one way.]
My eyes blankly turned toward Lasandra’s manifestation.
[Burn yourself. Use yourself as fuel for the flames that will annihilate Crookiatus.]
I asked in a low voice.
“Is that possible?”
[If I emerge through your body, it’s possible.]
“If we do that, we can kill Crookiatus.”
[Yes. I’ll pour out all the magical power you have left, plus all the power I possess. It’s forbidden in the Heavenly Realm. I might be stripped of my divine status.]
My heart pounded thump, thump.
Lasandra was saying she would help me with the resolve to be expelled from the Heavenly Realm.
[After it’s over, you’ll die. If you’re lucky, you might live for a few minutes. I’m a god, and your body won’t be able to handle my power.]
Lasandra was right.
My body was already unable to endure the magical power I possessed.
If I were to use Lasandra’s power on top of that, death would be an inevitable result.
“I’ll do it.”
But it didn’t matter.
“I’m going to die anyway, right?”
No more tears came from my dry eyes.
I had no sensation in my body and my tongue tip was bitter for no reason.
“I’ll do it, I will…”
[…]
“Please let me end this before anyone else gets hurt.”
Lasandra nodded.
Kwaaaaang-!
A fierce explosion reached Tian’s ears as he passed beneath the city wall.
Sensing something ominous, he urged his horse to go faster.
In the distance, he could see Abner Manor collapsing.
Something bizarre was glowing black amidst the rising dust.
An evil dragon floating in the air.
And thousands of chains made of light binding its body.
[Let’s end this terrible fate here, Crookiatus.]
A voice that shook heaven and earth flowed through Annellia’s mouth.
[Both you and I will disappear from this world-!!!]
At the same time, tears streamed down from Annellia’s eyes.
The next moment, the entire field of vision was covered in white light.
“Annellia, no.”
When I opened my eyes, Tian was right in front of me.
Behind him, I could see the clear blue sky where the demonic energy had lifted.
“Annellia, please…”
Tian’s hot tears fell drop by drop onto my cheek.
I was lying on the dirt ground, looking up at the sky.
“Is Crookiatus dead?”
Tian gently stroked my head with trembling hands.
“He’s gone… without a trace.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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